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Markup advances rural and municipal utility cybersecurity bill with $250 million authorization

Energy and Commerce: House Committee · February 2, 2026

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Summary

HR 7266 reauthorizes the rural and municipal utility cybersecurity grant and technical assistance program and authorizes $250,000,000 over five years to help small and cooperative utilities deploy cybersecurity tools, the subcommittee adopted the bill as amended.

The subcommittee advanced HR 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, adopting a technical amendment and forwarding the bill to the full committee.

Sponsors said the bill reauthorizes and strengthens the rural and municipal utility advanced cybersecurity grant and technical assistance program (RMUC), noting that small electric cooperatives and municipal utilities face the same sophisticated threats as large systems but often lack resources. The sponsor from Iowa said the bill would authorize $250,000,000 over five years to support deployment of cybersecurity technologies and participation in information‑sharing programs.

A supporting member from Virginia noted the program’s importance for under‑resourced rural communities. The bill sponsor offered a technical amendment to shift the reauthorization start date from 2026 to 2027; the amendment passed by voice vote and the amended bill was adopted and forwarded to the full committee.